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Inoculated: How Science Lost its Soul in Autism
n November of 2013, Simpson University biology professor, Dr. Brian Hooker got a call from Dr. William Thompson, a senior scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) working in vaccine safety. Their conversations would lead to explosive revelations that top officials at the CDC engaged in a systematic cover-up of data showing that earlier administration of the MMR vaccine caused increased rates of autism in children, particularly African-American males. Thompson would eventually turn over thousands of the documents to US Congressman William Poesy. Science teacher and author, Kent Heckenlively, was granted access to this unprecedented trove of documents and uses them, as well as ground-breaking interviews with any of the key players in this debate, to tell the story of how vaccines have become a thirty-year disaster since passage of the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act which gave pharmaceutical companies complete immunity for damages caused by their products.
430 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2016
97 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Kent Heckenlively
21 books74 followersWhen I was fourteen years old I submitted my first story to ANALOG magazine, devoted to short science fiction stories. My story did not get accepted, but I did get a gentle rejection letter which told me to keep writing. In college I wrote my first novel, spent many years writing screenplays, and eventually ran across a story I thought I could turn into a non-fiction story. That was PLAGUE, co-authored with Dr. Judy Mikovits.
In between writing, I worked a summer for a United States Senator, spent two summers chasing bad guys at the United States Attorney's Office, and spent six weeks in a virus lab where I worked with Ebola.
In college I was a double major in English and Political Science, served as Head of our Model United Nations team, and was our school's Rhodes Scholar Candidate. In law school I was a writer and editor for law review, and also won top honors in our Mock Trial class.
I worked as a lawyer with my dad for several years, then found myself drawn to my original love of science and became a science teacher. Now I get to teach science during the day and write about it at night.
In between writing, I worked a summer for a United States Senator, spent two summers chasing bad guys at the United States Attorney's Office, and spent six weeks in a virus lab where I worked with Ebola.
In college I was a double major in English and Political Science, served as Head of our Model United Nations team, and was our school's Rhodes Scholar Candidate. In law school I was a writer and editor for law review, and also won top honors in our Mock Trial class.
I worked as a lawyer with my dad for several years, then found myself drawn to my original love of science and became a science teacher. Now I get to teach science during the day and write about it at night.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 8, 2020
It took me awhile to get through this but I'm glad I finished it.
Please for the love of God let everyone wake up, heed these warnings and stop believing everything you hear - the most corrupt industries are the most powerful - learn to immediately question everything your doctor or the mainstream media says.
Take it like this - believe your doctor, prime minister, health professional, journalist as much as you believe your mechanic and we will all be healthier for it... especially our kids!
Please for the love of God let everyone wake up, heed these warnings and stop believing everything you hear - the most corrupt industries are the most powerful - learn to immediately question everything your doctor or the mainstream media says.
Take it like this - believe your doctor, prime minister, health professional, journalist as much as you believe your mechanic and we will all be healthier for it... especially our kids!
May 9, 2020
Pro vaccines but safe vaccines!
As a parent of two children with Aspergers I found I study autism like I'm studying for a PHD!!! This book goes a long way in supporting my education. The truth is I have three kids only two on the spectrum and only two vaccinated........make of it What you will. All I know is we were all pro vaccine and we vaccinated our kids. We're mostly still pro vaccine but safe vaccines that's all. I hope this book reaches many people and makes them want to study like it's for a PHD.
As a parent of two children with Aspergers I found I study autism like I'm studying for a PHD!!! This book goes a long way in supporting my education. The truth is I have three kids only two on the spectrum and only two vaccinated........make of it What you will. All I know is we were all pro vaccine and we vaccinated our kids. We're mostly still pro vaccine but safe vaccines that's all. I hope this book reaches many people and makes them want to study like it's for a PHD.
August 9, 2021
Wow! An excellent book. Everything you need to know about immunizations and their connection to autism. The author, Kent Heckenlively, is a lawyer, science teacher, author, but most importantly, the father of a vaccine injured child. He has co-authored books with the great Dr. Judy Mikovits and has a new book coming out with her and Dr. Frank Ruscetti at the end of August. To say he is the right person to write this book is an understatement. Like a lawyer, Heckenlively breaks down the history and vaccines and autism. He starts with the dramatic revelation by Dr. William Thompson of the CDC of a cover-up, in which he participated, by the CDC of a study that revealed the early administration of the MMR vaccine greatly increases the chance that black boys and others develop autism. It is absolutely stunning to read. The co-authors of the study gathered together with a large trash can and threw away their hard copies of the parts of the study that proved this connection. But not Dr. Thompson. He was afraid that throwing away his hard copies would violate FOIA laws. But he took years to speak out. In the meantime, millions of children were needlessly harmed by early administration (18 or 24 months) of the MMR vaccine. As a mother, this angers me tremendously. In subsequent chapters, Heckenlively examines the study conducted by Dr. Andrew Wakefield that showed disturbing relations between the MMR vaccine and autism. He describes the shoddy work done by Dr. Ian Lipkin and Dr. Mady Hornig that was used to discredit Wakefield. Such a tragedy! In fact, the entire book tells the story of a needless tragedy that has occurred in families around the world due to the CDC cover-up. Heckenlively details efforts by Robert Kennedy Jr. and others to bring the truth to light and how Big Pharma has successfully thwarted all of them (hint: lots of money in the pockets of politicians). He recounts the disturbing deaths of Brandy Vaughn (former Merck rep turned whistleblower) and Dr. Jeff Bradstreet (hint: if you oppose Big Pharma and try to expose their secrets, your life is in danger). He details the successful dropping from the Tribeca Film Festival of the documentary Vaxxed and the later change of heart by DeNiro. And he also sheds light on a hopeful medicine for autism sufferers: Suramin. Throughout the book, he weaves the story of his 2 children, both injured by vaccines, one he was able to bring back through nutrition and the other sadly locked in a silent world. The book ends with the crushing of the hope that autism parents had that Trump would actually do something to the intervention by none other than vaccine lover Bill Gates. It is truly terrifying that someone with no medical credentials whatsoever is running around the world promoting poison. Finally, and most chilling of all, Heckenlively discusses why there has never been a successful coronavirus vaccine. Starting on page 351 he discusses studies that were done on animals after the 2002 Sars-CoV outbreak. At first, the animals seemed to be fine and exhibited "robust antibodies to cornonavirus." But when later exposed to the wild virus, the results were "horrifying." Hyper-immune responses were observed "including inflammation throughout their bodies, especially in their lungs." What this means for the current vaccines being touted is truly scary. What might we see during the 2021 "flu season" when vaccinated individuals are exposed to coronaviruses? I guess only time will tell. This book is a must-read for anyone with questions about the cause of autism and other neurological development disorders. It is an eye-opening story of fraud at the CDC, the very institution millions are trusting right now to guide them through this current health crisis. Read this book, and you may think twice before ever believing a word the CDC says.
August 10, 2018
This book is mainly about CDC whistleblower William Thompson's revelation that the CDC "engaged in a systematic cover-up of data showing that earlier administration of the MMR vaccine caused increased rates of autism in children, particularly among African-American males" (quote from the book's back cover).
However, it is worth reading just for the chapter entitled "Those Who Would Oppose Goliath", which spells out, in shocking detail, what Big Pharma will do to insiders who break ranks. The chapter follows the career of Brandy Vaughn, a pharmaceutical sales rep who was prompted by the Vioxx scandal to reflect on the ethics of what she was doing.
One of the first things she learns is that "they (Pfizer) had the most advanced surveillance program money can buy. It was probably better than the National Security Agency or Homeland Security" (Page 216). The employee's every move is closely monitored - to ensure that he or she is not stepping out of line.
Then Brandy makes a seven-year visit to Europe, which "really opened my eyes" (Page 219). "In Europe, medicine is used when you're sick. You don't use medicine when you're not sick." There was no insistence on "medicalizing" childbirth, for instance.
After her return to the United States, with an unvaccinated child, she becomes involved in the opposition to legislation that would make vaccination virtually unavoidable. And that's when Big Pharma launches a campaign of harassment and intimidation against her, repeatedly breaking into her home and resorting to other dirty tricks.
PS: I read this book in paperback, not in Kindle.
However, it is worth reading just for the chapter entitled "Those Who Would Oppose Goliath", which spells out, in shocking detail, what Big Pharma will do to insiders who break ranks. The chapter follows the career of Brandy Vaughn, a pharmaceutical sales rep who was prompted by the Vioxx scandal to reflect on the ethics of what she was doing.
One of the first things she learns is that "they (Pfizer) had the most advanced surveillance program money can buy. It was probably better than the National Security Agency or Homeland Security" (Page 216). The employee's every move is closely monitored - to ensure that he or she is not stepping out of line.
Then Brandy makes a seven-year visit to Europe, which "really opened my eyes" (Page 219). "In Europe, medicine is used when you're sick. You don't use medicine when you're not sick." There was no insistence on "medicalizing" childbirth, for instance.
After her return to the United States, with an unvaccinated child, she becomes involved in the opposition to legislation that would make vaccination virtually unavoidable. And that's when Big Pharma launches a campaign of harassment and intimidation against her, repeatedly breaking into her home and resorting to other dirty tricks.
PS: I read this book in paperback, not in Kindle.
February 13, 2019
Great summary of vaccine problem up to 2016
The book is told like a story weaving through the major highlights of the anti-vaccine movement. It goes back to the 80s and proceeds through the Wakefield controversy and then the various coverups and battles of the 2000-2016 era.
As someone who did not know much about the anti-vax movement, this was a perfect introduction to give me an idea of the major players, the major issues and arguments, and some of the proposed solutions.
The author also tells it like a story and makes it very captivating. Even without the educational aspect, it was such an exciting book to read just to see where the heroes and villains would go next. Highly recommend to any newcomer to the movement!
The book is told like a story weaving through the major highlights of the anti-vaccine movement. It goes back to the 80s and proceeds through the Wakefield controversy and then the various coverups and battles of the 2000-2016 era.
As someone who did not know much about the anti-vax movement, this was a perfect introduction to give me an idea of the major players, the major issues and arguments, and some of the proposed solutions.
The author also tells it like a story and makes it very captivating. Even without the educational aspect, it was such an exciting book to read just to see where the heroes and villains would go next. Highly recommend to any newcomer to the movement!
June 3, 2020
This was an interesting read and in many ways while worthwhile it is disappointing. It really displays how science and research is politicized and ultimately prevents and delays discovery of crucial cures and therapeutics. This focus is on autism and “fillers” in vaccines that could have contributed to damage at the cellular level in some children. The research on this is incomplete and so is a therapeutic drug treatment (Suramin). The author argues for more research and transparency with scientists when they make discoveries that affect the safety of infants and children not to mention their long term development and well-being. This was a selection available on KindleUnlimited.
July 17, 2022
Excellent, eye opening!
This book exposes the callous attitude of agencies in America that should be looking out for the health and interests of Americans. It supports its stipulations with studies and expert testimony. It is a must read for anyone who cares about our children.
This book exposes the callous attitude of agencies in America that should be looking out for the health and interests of Americans. It supports its stipulations with studies and expert testimony. It is a must read for anyone who cares about our children.
July 30, 2020
Eye opener about the CDC, NIH.
January 25, 2023
I’m interested to read more on this topic (vaccines and autism), but I probably wouldn’t recommend this book as a starting point. A challenging read for me. Long and detailed to a fault.
October 19, 2020
Interesting info overall but very repetitive and dry. This is the first book in a long time I returned without finishing. I felt that the same message and info was spouted over and over again. If you are highly scientific and enjoy the topic you may feel differently.
January 9, 2017
Unsure of the vaccine debate? This books explains it all.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews